Rishīkesh (India)

Rishikesh or Hrishikesh is a municipal corporation and tehsil of the Dehradun district of the Indian state Uttarakhand. It is situated on the right bank of the Ganges river and is a pilgrimage town for Hindus associated with famous sages and yogis. There are numerous temples and ashrams built along the banks of the river. Nicknamed the "Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas", Rishikesh is a vegetarian-only and alcohol-free city. The city has hosted the International Yoga Festival annually on the first week of March since 1999, giving it the nickname of Yoga Capital of the World. Rishikesh is the starting point for travelling to the four Char Dham pilgrimage places: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. It is also a starting point for Himalayan tourist destinations such as Harsil, Chopta, Auli, as well as summer and winter trekking destinations like Dodital, Dayara Bugyal, Kedarkantha and Har Ki Dun. In September 2015, Indian Minister of Tourism Mahesh Sharma announced that Rishikesh and Haridwar would be the first "twin national heritage cities". As of 2021, Rishikesh has a total population of 322,825 including the city and its 93 surrounding villages. The city is governed by Rishikesh Municipal Corporation and tehsil.